Clothes washing apparatus with variable agitation

ABSTRACT

Clothes washing apparatus utilizing agitator structure which is capable of intermittent operation. The subject apparatus is adapted for accommodating various load sizes and types of clothing by providing means for varying the duty cycle of the agitator, a very long duty cycle, for example, corresponding to a very large load of clothes or a heavily soiled load and a very short duty cycle corresponding to a small load of lingerie.

United States Patent [72] Inventor WilliamA.Wasemann Mansfield,0hio

1211 Appl. NO. 734,927

[22] Fiied June 6,1968

{45] Patented June 29, i971 {73] Assignee Westinghouse Electric Corporation Pittsburgh, Pa.

(54] CLOTHES WASHING APPARATUS WITH VARIABLE AGITATION 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 68/12 [51] lnt.Cl D06f33/02 [50] Field of Search 68/12 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,216,388 10/1940 Hampel l34/20O(UX) 3,269,154 8 1966 0615s 68 12 3,273,361 9/l966 Smith..... 68/12 3,353,377 ll/l967 Worst 68 12 3,403,538 10/1968 Andrcwetal. 68/12 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge AttorneysF. H. Henson, R. T. French and B. B. Sklar, Jr.

ABSTRACT: Clothes washing apparatus utilizing agitator structure which is capable of intermittent operation. The subject apparatus is adapted for accommodating various load sizes and types of clothing by providing means for varying the duty cycle of the agitator, a very long duty cycle, for example, corresponding to a very large load of clothes or a heavily soiled load and a very short duty cycle corresponding to a small load of lingerie.

l 1 Q I DOOR swn'cu I lTlMER TIMER MOTOR SUB-INTERVAL MOTOR PATENTEnJuuzslsn 3,589,148

SHEET 2 BF 2 M OTOR ,TIMER TIMER MOTOR SUB INTERVAL MOTOR DOOR SWITCH FIGB.

CLOTHES WASHING APPARATUS WITH VARIABLE AGITATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, in general, to clothes washing machines and, more particularly, to agitator structure and method of operation thereof.

Due to the prevailing trend, to increase the capacity of domestic clothes washing machines, it has become more dif ficult to obtain, with any one agitator structure, satisfactory wash action (i.e. turnover and circulation) for all sizes of loads and types of clothing.

Some attempts to improve the wash action of the agitator structure over a wide range of load sizes and types, have led to the provision of an agitator structure molded of Polypropylene and having highly flexible vanes with portions attached to a central post and with paddle portions or segments which are not attached. It has been found that the foregoing structure produces a wash action which is too vigorous for the smallest clothes loads and water levels and too gentle, or not powerful enough, for the large clothes loads, the latter, of course, resulting in too little turnover and circulation of the cloths.

Another solution to the problem has been to provide a variable speed motor in a machine in order to attain a variety of actions, as deemed necessary. This approach, as will be obvious, is undesirable since it substantially increases the cost of an already expensive part of the machine. Furthermore, at the lower speeds the attendant slower pumping rates are objectionable.

Accordingly, the general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved agitator-type clothes washing machine.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide, in a clothes washing machine, new and improved means for effecting intermittent operation of the agitator structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved clothes washing machine having means for varying the duty cycle of switch means for effecting intermittent operation of the agitator structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the above-cited objects are accomplished by providing, in an agitator-type washing machine, a main motor interrupt switch, which, during desired portions of the cycle of operation, intermittently opens and closes the circuit to the motor to start and stop operation of the agitator. The starting and stopping of the agitator, as disclosed in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is effected by means of a subinterval cam acting on the motor interrupt switch, the cam being programmed to run during a predetermined portion of the normal cycle, for example, during the wash portion. It will be appreciated that the subinterval cam may be rendered operative during the rinse portion of the cycle, if desired. The motor interrupt switch is mounted, for displacement relative to the cam, on a spring-biased lever arm, the position of which can be varied by suitable mechanism. The degree of displacement of the switch with respect to the subinterval cam determines the duty cycle of the former and consequently, the on and otF' time of the agitator.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in view of the following detailed description and drawings forming a part thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a partial perspective view of a clothes washing machine representing the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view in cross section of the machine shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a combined diagrammatic and schematic represen tation of the control portion of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, especially FIG. 1, reference character I0 designates generally an agitator-type clothes washing machine comprising a cabinet structure 11, a top wall or panel 12 a back splasher panel 13, and a bottom panel 14 (FIG. 2).

The bottom panel 14 is formed, in the center thereof, in the shape of a frustum of a dome or sphere 16. Supported within the cabinet 11 is a nonrotating basket or tub 17 which is rigidly attached to a plurality of support members 18 (only one being shown). The support members are, in turn, secured to a dome-shaped member 19 having a shape similar to that of the dome l6. interposed between the members 16 and 19 is a latitudinal strip 21 of friction material.

A coaxial centerpost structure 22 is operatively connected, in a conventional manner to a transmission 23 which is supported within the cabinet I1 subadjiacent the basket 17 by means of support members 24 (only one shown) attached to the support members 18. A plurality of springs 26 (only one shown) stabilize the support members 18 and elements supported thereby which receive vibration developed by a motor 27 and the transmission 23, the former of which being operatively connected to the latter by means of a drive pulley 28 and a drive belt 29. A water pump 311 provides means for circulating water through the system which comprises a spinner basket 32 which is attached to the outer component of the coaxial centerpost 22 by means of a hub member 33. An agitator structure 34 affixed to the inner component of the centerpost 22 is oscillated in a well-known manner by the transmission 23.

A combination timer control knob and line switch actuating member 36 mounted in the back splasher panel serve to establish an electrical circuit to the motor 27 through a line switch 37 and cam actuated switches 38 and 39. In accordance with conventional practice :rotation of the motor 27 in one direction effects oscillating movement of the agitator 34 while rotation of the motor in the opposite direction causes spinning of the basket 32.

In accordance with the object of the present invention there is provided a main motor, normally'open interrupt switch 41 (see FIG. 3) which is opened and closed by means of a subinterval cam 42. Interruption of the circuit to the motor 27 during a predetermined portion, for example, during the wash segment of the cycle, provides for intermittent operation of the agitator structure 32.

The duty cycle of the switch 41 can be varied by changing the relative positioning of the cam 42 with respect to the switch 41 (see FIG. 3). In the preferred manner, as shown in FIG. 3, the switch 41 is carried by a lever arm 43 which is, in turn, supported by an L-shaped bracket 44 stationarily mounted to a support panel 46 disposed in the back splasher panel 13. The switch 41 can be moved toward the cam 42 by virtue of cam means 47 engaging a cam follower 48 formed integrally with the lever arm 43. Movement of the switch away from the cam 42 is effected by a bias spring 49 attached to the lever arm 43 and the L-shaped bracket 44. Movement of the cam 47 is accomplished through rotation of a rod 51 to which it is fitted and a control knob 52 located in the area of the back splasher panel 13. It shouid be apparent that movement of the switch 41 closer to the cam 42 provides for a longer operating time for the agitator structure 32 and that movement thereof in the opposite direction decreases the operating time. A separate motor, shown schematically in FIG. 3, drives the cam 42 at the rate of one half r.p.m.

Since numerous changes may be made in the described apparatus and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

lclaim:

1. In a clothes washing machine having various modes of operation including an agitation cycle and an electric motor for driving agitator structure in said machine during said cycle:

switch means interposed in the motor circuit for starting and stopping said motor during said cycle; and,

control means for controlling the on and off time of said switch during said cycle, wherein said control means includes means to vary the on time of said switch over a predetermined range, wherein said means to vary the on time comprises:

cyclically operated cam means; and,

positioning means mounting said switch means to variably position said switch with respect to said cam means.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said cyclically operated cam means comprises a subinterval cam having a cycle of operation at least no longer than the agitation cycle.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes:

a pivotable mounting arm supporting said switch adjacent said cyclical cam;

spring means for urging said arm to pivot in one direction;

and,

manually adjustable cam means abutting said arm in opposition to said spring means to position said switch with respect to said cyclical cam to intermittently operate said switch.

4. in a clothes washing machine having agitating means for cyclically agitating the clothes and a motor for driving said agitating means:

switch means for controlling the operation of said motor during said agitation cycle; and,

control means for controlling opening and closing of said switch means including means to manually vary the length of time said switch means including means to manually vary the length of time said switch means is in either opened or closed position over a predetermined range. Wherein said manually variable means comprises: cyclically operated cam means; and,

means to variably position said switch with respect to said cam means.

8. Structure of claim 4 wherein said cyclically operated cam means comprises a subinterval cam having a cycle of operation at least no longer than the agitation cycle.

6. Structure ofclaim 4 wherein said means to variably position said switch includes:

a pivotable mounting arm supporting said switch adjacent said cyclical cam;

spring means for biasing said arm to pivot in one direction;

and,

manually adjustable cam means abutting said arm in opposition to said spring for positioning said switch with respect to said cyclically operated cam to intermittently open and close said switch. 

1. In a clothes washing machine having various modes of operation including an agitation cycle and an electric motor for driving agitator structure in said machine during said cycle: switch means interposed in the motor circuit for starting and stopping said motor during said cycle; and, control means for controlling the on and off time of said switch during said cycle, wherein said control means includes means to vary the on time of said switch over a predetermined range, wherein said means to vary the on time comprises: cyclically operated cam means; and, positioning means mounting said switch means to variably position said switch with respect to said cam means.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said cyclically operated cam means comprises a subinterval cam having a cycle of operation at least no longer than the agitation cycle.
 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes: a pivotable mounting arm supporting said switch adjacent said cyclical cam; spring means for urging said arm to pivot in one direction; and, manually adjustable cam means abutting said arm in opposition to said spring means to position said switch with respect to said cyclical cam to intermittently operate said switch.
 4. In a clothes washing machine having agitating means for cyclically agitating the clothes and a motor for driving said agitating means: switch means for controlling the operation of said motor during said agitation cycle; and, control means for controlling opening and closing of said switch means including means to manually vary the length of time said switch means including means to manually vary the length of time said switch means is in either opened or closed position over a predetermined range. Wherein said manually variable means comprises: cyclically operated cam means; and, means to variably position said switch with respect to said cam means.
 6. Structure of claim 4 wherein said means to variably position said switch includes: a pivotable mounting arm supporting said switch adjacent said cyclical cam; spring means for biasing said arm to pivot in one direction; and, manually adjustable cam means abutting said arm in opposition to said spring for positioning said switch with respect to said cyclically operated cam to intermittently open and close said switch.
 8. Structure of claim 4 wherein said cyclically operated cam means comprises a subinterval cam having a cycle of operation at least no longer than the agitation cycle. 